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Thomas Ryan Guilty Plea

Cape & Islands District Attorney Michael O'Keefe announced today that Thomas E. Ryan (DOB: 03/21/58) most recently of 69 Cato Lane, Nantucket, pled guilty to the charge of manslaughter in connection with the 2009 death of 39 year old Scott Bernard of Nantucket. Superior Court Judge Gary Nickerson sentenced Thomas Ryan to an 8-10 year State's prison sentence.

On March 5, 2009, Bernard's body was found by a passerby in the roadway on Cato Lane. He was taken to the Nantucket Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy indicated the cause of death was a single stab wound.

The investigation revealed that the defendant and the victim who were co-workers had been drinking together at a local bar. They returned to the 69 Cato Lane address where an altercation took place resulting in the death.

The case was investigated by the Nantucket Police Department and Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Office of the Cape & Islands District Attorney. The case was prosecuted by First Assistant District Attorney Michael Trudeau.